Top 100 Polish Words for Students in Poland
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Starting university in Poland means learning a whole new set of words before the first lecture: dziekanat, kolokwium, legitymacja. This list covers the hundred you will hear most — at the university, in the dorm, at the bank and in town.
University
| Polish | English | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| uczelnia | university, college | oo-CHEL-nyah |
| uniwersytet | university | oo-nyee-ver-SIH-tet |
| wydział | faculty | VIH-jahw |
| kierunek | degree programme, major | kyeh-ROO-nek |
| rok studiów | year of study | rok STOO-dyoov |
| semestr | semester | SEH-mestr |
| legitymacja studencka | student ID card | leh-gee-tih-MAH-tsyah stoo-DENTS-kah |
| dziekanat | dean's office | jeh-KAH-naht |
| rektor | rector | REK-tor |
| stypendium | scholarship | stih-PEN-dyoom |
Classes
| Polish | English | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| wykład | lecture | VIH-kwahd |
| ćwiczenia | tutorial, practical class | chvee-CHEH-nyah |
| seminarium | seminar | seh-mee-NAH-ryoom |
| zajęcia | classes | zah-YEN-chah |
| sala | lecture room | SAH-lah |
| prowadzący | lecturer, class teacher | proh-vah-DZON-tsih |
| obecność | attendance | oh-BETS-noshch |
| nieobecność | absence | nyeh-oh-BETS-noshch |
| plan zajęć | timetable | plahn ZAH-yench |
| przerwa | break | PSHER-vah |
Exams and grades
| Polish | English | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| egzamin | exam | eg-ZAH-meen |
| kolokwium | test, mid-term | koh-LOK-vyoom |
| sesja | exam session | SEH-syah |
| zaliczenie | pass, credit | zah-lee-CHEH-nyeh |
| ocena | grade | oh-TSEH-nah |
| punkty ECTS | ECTS credits | POONK-tih ECTS |
| poprawka | resit | poh-PRAHV-kah |
| ściąga | cheat sheet | SHCHON-gah |
| zdać | to pass (an exam) | zdahch |
| oblać | to fail (an exam) | OH-blahch |
Studying
| Polish | English | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| notatki | notes | noh-TAHT-kee |
| podręcznik | textbook | poh-DRENCH-nyeek |
| biblioteka | library | beeb-lyoh-TEH-kah |
| czytelnia | reading room | chih-TEL-nyah |
| wypożyczyć | to borrow | vih-poh-ZHIH-chich |
| oddać | to return, to hand in | OD-dahch |
| praca dyplomowa | thesis | PRAH-tsah dih-ploh-MOH-vah |
| licencjat | bachelor's degree | lee-TSEN-tsyaht |
| studia magisterskie | master's degree | STOO-dyah mah-gees-TERS-kyeh |
| promotor | thesis supervisor | proh-MOH-tor |
Dorm and housing
| Polish | English | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| akademik | student dorm | ah-kah-DEH-meek |
| pokój | room | POH-kooy |
| współlokator | roommate, flatmate | vspoow-loh-KAH-tor |
| czynsz | rent | chinsh |
| kaucja | deposit | kah-OO-tsyah |
| umowa najmu | rental agreement | oo-MOH-vah NAHY-moo |
| kuchnia | kitchen | KOOH-nyah |
| łazienka | bathroom | wah-ZHEN-kah |
| pralnia | laundry room | PRAHL-nyah |
| klucz | key | klooch |
Money
| Polish | English | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| konto w banku | bank account | KON-toh v BAHN-koo |
| karta | card | KAHR-tah |
| przelew | bank transfer | PSHEH-lev |
| gotówka | cash | goh-TOOV-kah |
| zniżka | discount | ZNYEEZH-kah |
| bilet miesięczny | monthly pass | BEE-let myeh-SHENCH-nih |
| stołówka | canteen | stoh-WOOV-kah |
| rachunek | bill | rah-HOO-nek |
| oszczędzać | to save (money) | osh-CHEN-dzahch |
| praca dorywcza | part-time job, side job | PRAH-tsah doh-RIV-chah |
Town and transport
| Polish | English | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| tramwaj | tram | TRAHM-vahy |
| autobus | bus | ah-oo-TOH-boos |
| przystanek | stop | pshis-TAH-nek |
| rozkład jazdy | timetable (transport) | ROZ-kwahd YAHZ-dih |
| kasownik | ticket validator | kah-SOV-nyeek |
| rower miejski | city bike | ROH-ver MYEYS-kee |
| centrum | city centre | TSEN-troom |
| dworzec | station | DVOH-zhets |
| mapa | map | MAH-pah |
| spóźnić się | to be late | SPOOZH-nyeech sheh |
Offices and documents
| Polish | English | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| urząd | government office | OO-zhond |
| wniosek | application | VNYOH-sek |
| termin | deadline, appointment | TER-meen |
| zaświadczenie | certificate | zahsh-vyahd-CHEH-nyeh |
| ubezpieczenie zdrowotne | health insurance | oo-bez-pyeh-CHEH-nyeh zdroh-VOT-neh |
| PESEL | PESEL (Polish ID number) | PESEL |
| meldunek | address registration | mel-DOO-nek |
| podpis | signature | POD-pees |
| kopia | copy | KOH-pyah |
| formularz | form | for-MOO-lahzh |
Everyday life
| Polish | English | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| zakupy | shopping | zah-KOO-pih |
| sklep | shop | sklep |
| śniadanie | breakfast | shnyah-DAH-nyeh |
| obiad | lunch (main meal) | OH-byahd |
| kolacja | dinner, supper | koh-LAH-tsyah |
| impreza | party | eem-PREH-zah |
| znajomy / znajoma | friend, acquaintance (m / f) | znah-YOH-mih / znah-YOH-mah |
| czas wolny | free time | chahs VOL-nih |
| siłownia | gym | shee-WOV-nyah |
| weekend | weekend | veh-EH-kend |
Useful words
| Polish | English | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| pomoc | help | POH-mots |
| pytanie | question | pih-TAH-nyeh |
| odpowiedź | answer | od-POH-vyej |
| rozumieć | to understand | roh-ZOO-myech |
| pamiętać | to remember | pah-MYEN-tahch |
| zapomnieć | to forget | zah-POM-nyech |
| spotkanie | meeting | spot-KAH-nyeh |
| hasło | password | HAH-swoh |
| zalogować się | to log in | zah-loh-GOH-vahch sheh |
| Powodzenia! | Good luck! | poh-voh-DZEH-nyah |
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